Improvement in car-couplings



E-CAMPBELL improvemehtn CarQQoupHngs.

Patented June I3, 1871.

UNE i' EUGENE CAMPBELL,'OF MEDUSA, 'NEW YORK.

{MPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115,819, dated .Inno 13, 1871.

To all fwhom it 'may concer-n.-

Beit known that I, EUGENE CAMPBELL, of Medusa, in the county oi' Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Ima drawhead and springh0ok, which will be first fully described in connection with all the parts of a coupling, and then clearly pointed out in the claim.

\ In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents sections of two railroad cars connect` ed together by my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is atop or plan view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A and B represent the respective railroad cars. C is the draw-head of the car A; and D the draw-headof the car B. This drawhead is forked or bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Itis a peculiar featureof construction, which, when combined with the spring-hook, constitutes the basis of my imy provement. E is the coupling-hook, which is attached to the draw-head C by the pivot-pin F. Gr is a spring, which bears against the back of the hook with a constant pressure. H is a coupling-pin in the draw-head D, with which the hook engages to complete the coupling. This coupling-pin is made stationaryY in the draw-head in any suitable manner.

nncoupling is done by the bralieman or conductor on the platform of the car by means of the vertical shaft I and cord or chain J. One end ot' the cord or chain is attached to the coupling-hook E, and the other connected with the drum K on the shaft. L is'aratchet-wheel on the shaft. M is a spring-pawl, which en- The gages with the ratchet. N is the spring, which constantly bears against the pawl and keeps the latter engaged with the ratchet. The shaft is turnedby means of the hand-wheel 0. When the coupling-'hook is drawn back for nncoupling the cars, the ratchet and pawl hold it back until the latter is released from the rat-chet. The releasing is done with the foot, the end ot' the `pawl being turned up for that purpose, as seen at I). S is a draw-head, forked or bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This is a most important and peculiar feature ot' construction, and constitutes the basis of my improvement. When applied to a coupling provided with a suitable springhook, it becomes an invaluable desideratum in railroad travel, reducing greatly the liability of cars to switch ed the track, and insuring, to a great extent, uniformity and evenness of motion.

I do not confine myself to the use of the ratchet and pawl, as, for simply uncoupling -the cars, they may be dispensed with.

My main object is to allow the cars to couple automatically, and to provide means for nncoupling them Without going between them. This I have accomplished. By my arrangement the cars will couple when they come together, and the necessity for going between them for either coupling or uncouplin g is entirely obviated. y

The advantages of this arrangement will be readily understood by all who are acquainted with railroad management.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The bifurcated draw-headD, combined with the piyoted hook F, for the purpose specified.

EUGENE CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, Gno. W. Romains. 

